Governor Hochul presented her 2023-2024 budget proposal today in the Red Room of the State Capitol. Disability advocates were extremely disappointed that the Governor’s commitment “to serve all New Yorkers” and that this budget proposal “will do the hard things to lift up and support all New Yorkers” did not include New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, their families and the hardworking staff who support them.
Governor Hochul’s 2023-2024 (SFY ’24) budget totals $227 billion all funds spending (2.4% increase) and $125 billion state funds (2% increase) which includes:
- $34.5 Billion in public education funding (a $3.1billion/10% increase) including a $2.7 billion/12.8% Foundation Aid increase.
- 5% rate increase for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living rates.
- $24 billion in raining day reserves will be completed by the end of the current year — two years ahead of schedule.
- $1 billion multi-year investment to transform New York’s mental health care continuum
- $337 million for programs designed to prevent and reduce gun violence
- $400 million to provide relief to New Yorkers experiencing high electric bills as well as lowering energy burdens through electrifications and retrofits.
- Expands Medicaid coverage for 7.8 million low-income New Yorkers
Below are highlights of interest, to CP State Affiliates, from a quick look at the budget. We will provide further details as we read all the budget bill language.
OPWDD
NYDA and all the disability advocates have been urging the Governor to include an 8.5% COLA & a $4,000 wage enhancement. Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget included:
- A 2.5% COLA for OPWDD, OMH, OASAS, OCFS, OTDA & SOFA
- $0 wage enhancement
- $2 million to establish a Statewide Ombudsman Program for individuals with developmental disabilities to “provide an independent advocate for individuals who are not able to speak for themselves and provide training and support to those who can make their own decisions to help them achieve greater independence.”
- $11.7 million capital funding to develop Intensive Treatment Opportunity (ITO) Capacity units at the former Finger Lakes Developmental Center campus.
- IBR Study -A two-year Independent Study on the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR).
- An additional $15 Million to Develop Housing and expand independent living opportunities for individuals with IDD.
- Flexibilities for Delegated Nursing Tasks – legislation to allow greater flexibility for the performance of certain nursing tasks by unlicensed employees in non-certified community-based settings.
SED
- The Governor’s budget proposal includes a $3.1/10% billion overall increase and $2.7 billion/12.8% Foundation aid increase.
- Zero growth or COLA was included for our schools, however, other than last year, our school’s growth has not been in the budget but has always been in the April 15 methodology letter.
- $2.5 million for a rate setting study by SED to be presented to the Division of Budget by 7/1/2025
DOH
- Zero Early Intervention increase
- Zero clinic increase
- $500 million in multi-year health care capital funding to drive transformative investment that support the State’s health care investments.
- $500 million in multi-year capital grants to support investments in technological investment upgrades, including clinical tech and cybersecurity.
- $967 million to complete consolidation of Wadsworth Laboratories’ five unconnected sites to one site on the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany by 2030.
- $100 million to expand Medicaid coverage of preventative health services and access to primary care.
- $157 million in New York State’s nursing homes and $9 million in New York’s assisted living providers to meet the staffing requirements
- $60 million beginning in FY 2025 to expand the Medicaid Buy-In program so more New Yorkers with disabilities can work and still qualify for coverage.
OMH
A long-term, multi-year $1 billion investment to transform New York’s continuum of mental health care including:
- $915 million in capital to develop new residential units, plus $127 million in annual operating costs.
- $18 million in capital and $30 million annually to increase operational capacity for inpatient psychiatric treatment.
- $60 million in capital and $122 million annually to expand outpatient services.
- $27.5 million annually to improve post-discharge connections to services through the creation of 50 new Critical Time Intervention care coordination teams.
- $30 million annually to expand mental health services in schools.
Barbara
Barbara Crosier
Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations
Cerebral Palsy Associations of NYS
3 Cedar Street Extension, Suite 2
Cohoes, NY 12047
Phone: (518) 436-0178
Cell: (518) 424-3198
Fax: (518) 436-8619
E-mail: bcrosier@cpstate.org
ENYDDA 